LTTE SAYS IT WILL USE POLITICAL MEANS TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS BUT REFUSES TO ENTER AN ELECTION PROCESS TO DO SO.
Jun 30, 2009
Source: Onlanka News - By Walter Jayawardhana
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam new leader K. Pathmanathan alias KP said that his outfit would fight for his past separatist goals “through political means” but refused to enter any elections in Sri Lanka to do so.
In an interview with India Today’s Rajesh Sundaram the LTTE’s past arms procurer and new leader KP said the terrorist outfit would refuse to take part in Sri Lankan elections and did not elaborate in what other political means it would take to achieve its goals.
But he said his outfit is giving up violence and is attempting to get its international ban as a terrorist group revoked.
“We will continue our fight through political means until ….. aspirations of Tamil people are realized. We will stick to this position,” K.P. alias Pathmanathan said without specifically mentioning what those political means are.
Pathmanathan , whose outfit had never faced an election among Tamil people since its inception said, “ We do not see any rationale or space for participation in the elections in Sri Lanka. Fighting the cause through the political means does not necessarily mean participating in the elections. LTTE would not participate in the elections until a political settlement is reached based on the principles of Tamil nationhood, homeland and right to self determination.”
He attacked India for supporting Sri Lanka in the last Eelam War 1V and said his people became “victims of the Indian position.”
During the interview KP admitted that a small group of LTTE fighters led by one Col. Ram is still left in the Eastern Province jungles and appealed to the press to act “responsibly” since their safety could be jeopardised . (eom)
